Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner might not have been crowned the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year but he still had himself one heck of a season.
For his efforts last year, Wagner lands at No. 4 in Pro Football Focus’ Top 101 players from the 2017 NFL season.
“Bobby Wagner was one of the few players whose play jumps off the screen when you watch tape for most of the season for the Seahawks,” PFF’s Sam Monson notes in his post. “With injuries ravaging that defense, Wagner was the one player bringing it all together in the middle and keeping them playing well despite everything.”
Wagner himself battled a nagging hamstring injury throughout the final quarter of the season but never missed a game. He finished the year with 133 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two interceptions.
“Wagner was in real contention to top this list until he picked up that late injury that depressed his play over those final three games, but over the season overall, he was the game’s best linebacker and one of the best players to see the field,” Monson continued.
According to PFF’s “Elite Stat,” Wagner was a top-10 inside linebacker in run-stop percentage, pass-rush productivity, tackle efficiency, and in average cover snaps played per reception allowed.
Wagner was named to the AP’s 2017 First-Team All-Pro roster and the Pro Bowl NFC squad, although he sat out this year’s game due to his injury. He was Seattle’s 2017 Steve Largent Award winner for exemplifying the spirit, dedication and integrity of the Seahawks.
